Verne Troyer Sues TMZ Over Stolen Sex Tape - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-27-2008, 05:46 PM

Link

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dwarf actor Verne Troyer, a star of "The Love Guru," has sued celebrity Web site TMZ.com and other defendants seeking more than $20 million in damages over a sex tape he said was stolen and posted online.

Troyer, who played the diminutive character Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" movies, is shown in the tape with former girlfriend Renae Shrider.

Also named in the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Thursday, was producer Kevin Blatt, said to be a promoter of the 2004 sex tape featuring celebrity heiress Paris Hilton, and movie distribution company SugarDVD.

"The videotape was never intended by either plaintiff or his girlfriend to be shown to the public, and was always intended exclusively for plaintiff's own personal, private use," states the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

The tape was posted on TMZ on Wednesday, with a headline that included the words "avert your eyes."

Troyer, 39, is 2 feet, 8 inches tall.

He claims the tape was stolen, and accuses TMZ Productions Inc, which operates TMZ.com, of violating his privacy. His lawyers are seeking an injunction to have the tape removed from the Internet and not otherwise distributed.

TMZ officials were not immediately available to comment.

The suit estimates expected profits from the video to be $20 million, and seeks all profits earned. Troyer claims that he only found out on Wednesday, when the video was posted at TMZ.com, that it was in the hands of the defendants.

In 2004, Troyer went to court to dispute a contention from model Genevieve Gowman -- whose professional name was Genevieve Gallen -- that the two were legally married that year.

Troyer has worked in Hollywood for more than a decade, getting his start as a stunt double for an infant in the film "Baby's Day Out." In "The Love Guru," which stars Mike Myers, he plays an ice hockey coach.

Reuters/Nielsen

Ireneparalegal · 06-27-2008, 06:01 PM

Suuuure it was stolen.

Publicity stunt. Love Guru anyone?

TJL · 06-27-2008, 07:23 PM

It's probably better than Love Guru, Irene.

Ireneparalegal · 06-27-2008, 08:08 PM

Our local entertainment channel played a snippet of that tape and let me tell you...

uke:

80sTrivia · 06-27-2008, 08:10 PM

Ewwww...

Zoneboy · 06-27-2008, 08:42 PM

Link

LOS ANGELES - A 25-second snippet of video showing Verne Troyer and a former girlfriend having sex that was available online over the past couple of days is all the world will see of the tape — for now.

A federal judge on Friday granted a temporary restraining order requested by Troyer's attorneys that prevents porn distributors from taking orders for the full-length video, and prevents TMZ from broadcasting any more clips.

The celebrity Web site posted the short segment on its site on Wednesday; Troyer sued the site and porn distributors on Thursday for $20 million in damages.

U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez wrote that Troyer's motion "demonstrated that he will suffer irreparable harm to his reputation" if the tape is distributed. It barred further broadcasting of the tape, which Troyer's attorney, Tracy Rane, interpreted as meaning that TMZ has to remove the video from its site.

TMZ removed the snippet of the tape by late Friday afternoon, instead redirecting Web viewers to its homepage. Another post describing the lawsuit remained active Friday.

Troyer, who is most famous for his role as "Mini Me" in two of the "Austin Powers" movies, claims the sex tape he made with a former girlfriend was stolen from his home some months ago.

TMZ, which did not return telephone messages left by The Associated Press on Friday, reported that the video could fetch $100,000 from a porn distributor. SugarDVD wrote in a statement on its Web site that hoped to reach a deal with Troyer to distribute the full, 50-minute version.

Gutierrez also indicated in his ruling that he may be inclined to issue a more forceful preliminary injunction in the case unless TMZ and other parties demonstrate why it should be released.

Troyer's suit claims release of an excerpt of the tape was an invasion of privacy and copyright infringement. He is also seeking the return of all copies of the video.

His suit claims he made the tape with his former girlfriend and never intended it to be shown publicly.

The lawsuit included a pair of letters e-mailed to TMZ and SugarDVD telling both entities to remove mentions of the tape from their Web sites and halt any further plans to distribute it.

Ireneparalegal · 06-27-2008, 08:45 PM

Stolen from his home? How many celebs does that make now where a sex tape was stolen from the home? And note, nothing else was ever taken????

Brieannas21 · 06-27-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Our local entertainment channel played a snippet of that tape and let me tell you...

uke:

OMG I saw part of that, GROSSED ME OUT!!!!!!!! kissing part

Ireneparalegal · 06-27-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

OMG I saw part of that, GROSSED ME OUT!!!!!!!! kissing part

What they showed on our local channel was not kissing, if you know what I mean...

it was blurred out, but still.

I said, "Forget this" and changed the channel quick.

phoebe7165 · 06-27-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

What they showed on our local channel was not kissing, if you know what I mean...

it was blurred out, but still.

I said, "Forget this" and changed the channel quick.

I would, too!!

Yuck!!

Jude The Obscure · 06-27-2008, 11:46 PM

Why do these celebs keep insisting on making tapes of themselves?

Zoneboy · 06-27-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

Why do these celebs keep insisting on making tapes of themselves?

So they'll get stolen and wind up online somewhere for sale.

catlover79 · 06-28-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Our local entertainment channel played a snippet of that tape and let me tell you...

uke:

They showed a little bit of it on our local news.

I covered my eyes until the commercial break came on!!

70s show watcher · 06-29-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

Why do these celebs keep insisting on making tapes of themselves?

so that they can apper on tv and whine about them being stolen

catlover79 · 06-29-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

so that they can apper on tv and whine about them being stolen

06-27-2008, 05:46 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,412	Verne Troyer Sues TMZ Over Stolen Sex Tape Link LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dwarf actor Verne Troyer, a star of "The Love Guru," has sued celebrity Web site TMZ.com and other defendants seeking more than $20 million in damages over a sex tape he said was stolen and posted online. Troyer, who played the diminutive character Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" movies, is shown in the tape with former girlfriend Renae Shrider. Also named in the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Thursday, was producer Kevin Blatt, said to be a promoter of the 2004 sex tape featuring celebrity heiress Paris Hilton, and movie distribution company SugarDVD. "The videotape was never intended by either plaintiff or his girlfriend to be shown to the public, and was always intended exclusively for plaintiff's own personal, private use," states the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters. The tape was posted on TMZ on Wednesday, with a headline that included the words "avert your eyes." Troyer, 39, is 2 feet, 8 inches tall. He claims the tape was stolen, and accuses TMZ Productions Inc, which operates TMZ.com, of violating his privacy. His lawyers are seeking an injunction to have the tape removed from the Internet and not otherwise distributed. TMZ officials were not immediately available to comment. The suit estimates expected profits from the video to be $20 million, and seeks all profits earned. Troyer claims that he only found out on Wednesday, when the video was posted at TMZ.com, that it was in the hands of the defendants. In 2004, Troyer went to court to dispute a contention from model Genevieve Gowman -- whose professional name was Genevieve Gallen -- that the two were legally married that year. Troyer has worked in Hollywood for more than a decade, getting his start as a stunt double for an infant in the film "Baby's Day Out." In "The Love Guru," which stars Mike Myers, he plays an ice hockey coach. Reuters/Nielsen
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06-27-2008, 06:01 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Suuuure it was stolen. Publicity stunt. Love Guru anyone?
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06-27-2008, 07:23 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	It's probably better than Love Guru, Irene.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

06-27-2008, 08:08 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Our local entertainment channel played a snippet of that tape and let me tell you...uke:

06-27-2008, 08:10 PM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	Ewwww...
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06-27-2008, 08:42 PM	#6
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,412	Judge halts release of Verne Troyer sex tape Link LOS ANGELES - A 25-second snippet of video showing Verne Troyer and a former girlfriend having sex that was available online over the past couple of days is all the world will see of the tape — for now. A federal judge on Friday granted a temporary restraining order requested by Troyer's attorneys that prevents porn distributors from taking orders for the full-length video, and prevents TMZ from broadcasting any more clips. The celebrity Web site posted the short segment on its site on Wednesday; Troyer sued the site and porn distributors on Thursday for $20 million in damages. U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez wrote that Troyer's motion "demonstrated that he will suffer irreparable harm to his reputation" if the tape is distributed. It barred further broadcasting of the tape, which Troyer's attorney, Tracy Rane, interpreted as meaning that TMZ has to remove the video from its site. TMZ removed the snippet of the tape by late Friday afternoon, instead redirecting Web viewers to its homepage. Another post describing the lawsuit remained active Friday. Troyer, who is most famous for his role as "Mini Me" in two of the "Austin Powers" movies, claims the sex tape he made with a former girlfriend was stolen from his home some months ago. TMZ, which did not return telephone messages left by The Associated Press on Friday, reported that the video could fetch $100,000 from a porn distributor. SugarDVD wrote in a statement on its Web site that hoped to reach a deal with Troyer to distribute the full, 50-minute version. Gutierrez also indicated in his ruling that he may be inclined to issue a more forceful preliminary injunction in the case unless TMZ and other parties demonstrate why it should be released. Troyer's suit claims release of an excerpt of the tape was an invasion of privacy and copyright infringement. He is also seeking the return of all copies of the video. His suit claims he made the tape with his former girlfriend and never intended it to be shown publicly. The lawsuit included a pair of letters e-mailed to TMZ and SugarDVD telling both entities to remove mentions of the tape from their Web sites and halt any further plans to distribute it.

06-27-2008, 08:45 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Stolen from his home? How many celebs does that make now where a sex tape was stolen from the home? And note, nothing else was ever taken????

06-27-2008, 11:46 PM	#11
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Why do these celebs keep insisting on making tapes of themselves?